Question : WHEAT BASED NUTRITION PROGRAMME .



(a) whether the Government is considering the expansion of its wheat based nutrition programme to include other local and indigenous grains like bajra, jowar, ragi and millets;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is also considering making the nutrition index the primary barometer of tackling hunger and food insecurity in lieu of calorific intake; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) & (b): Under the Wheat Based Nutritional Programme, foodgrains alongwith wheat and rice, coarse grains such as Ragi, Maize, Jowar, Bajra are allocated to the States/Union Territories as per the procurement and requirement received from States/Union Territories. During 2012-13, in addition to rice and wheat, a quantity of 0.10 lakh tons of maize and 0.06 lakh tons of jowar and during 2013-14, a quantity of 0.11 lakh tons of maize and 0.06 lakh tons of jowar has been allocated under Wheat Based Nutritional Programme.

(c) & (d): The information is being collected.